Which major retailer "won" Halloween 2022?
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I am going with Home Depot. They offer a lot of props that I can build a new scene around relatively easy. I really like the Werewolf, gryphon statue, Angel and some of the other tombstones they offered. I got a girl on a rocking horse and a prisoner for a price that was well worth what I paid. I liked the witch even though I returned it. The reason I returned it is I was able to get the werewolf for the same price. I have a witches scene and the witch enhanced it, but I can build an entire new scene around the werewolf next year.
There were other things they had that I liked. The pumpkin stack was original. They had some indoor decor I liked. the goblin was original. I like the look of the updated giant spider. I liked the new evil skeletons they offered. Overall they were my favorite.
I thought Lowes stepped up this year. They had some cool haunted mansion props. I liked their gargoyle enough to get one, and then buy another when it shattered. They had some cool animatronics. (Freddy, Michael etc…). they also entered into the large prop arena with the mummy. I bought one of the 7 foot skeletons for a future project. It was a step forward for them.
Walmart had a couple of cool things but not much that I would buy. My favorite were the dragon lanterns. I did buy 10 of those. I do appreciate the stock they put out this year even if much of it was not to my taste.
Spirit was okay. I bought a Mr. Dark which is from last year. I am always hesitant to buy any animatronics from them though since I have been burned in the past. I remember buying a lunging Lilly that lasted about an hour before breaking. If I had been clear thinking I would have skipped the Mr. Dark on those grounds alone. Hopefully I do not get burned again. If I do I will never enter or spend another penny at Spirit.
Costco had the cool reaper and the headless horseman. I probably would not buy either because I have things that fill those roles already by I did like them. Unfortunately Costco has come up weak on the in store exhibit and even the on line offerings over the last couple of years. It’s like Halloween is an afterthought for them.
Michaels has a lot of good craft offerings, but nothing that really fits my taste. I do appreciate that they offer a decent stock every year in store.
Target was serviceable. I did buy a dragon skeleton and bat skeleton. But overall Target is not a must visit place for me during halloween.
Big lots did have some cool stuff. I bought a few things from there that I remember liking, but strangely enough other than a picture I can‘t think of what it was I bought from there. So I appreciate that they had some cool stuff, but it was not very memorable for me.
Cant really comment on the rest as I did not visit any of them.
There were other things they had that I liked. The pumpkin stack was original. They had some indoor decor I liked. the goblin was original. I like the look of the updated giant spider. I liked the new evil skeletons they offered. Overall they were my favorite.
I thought Lowes stepped up this year. They had some cool haunted mansion props. I liked their gargoyle enough to get one, and then buy another when it shattered. They had some cool animatronics. (Freddy, Michael etc…). they also entered into the large prop arena with the mummy. I bought one of the 7 foot skeletons for a future project. It was a step forward for them.
Walmart had a couple of cool things but not much that I would buy. My favorite were the dragon lanterns. I did buy 10 of those. I do appreciate the stock they put out this year even if much of it was not to my taste.
Spirit was okay. I bought a Mr. Dark which is from last year. I am always hesitant to buy any animatronics from them though since I have been burned in the past. I remember buying a lunging Lilly that lasted about an hour before breaking. If I had been clear thinking I would have skipped the Mr. Dark on those grounds alone. Hopefully I do not get burned again. If I do I will never enter or spend another penny at Spirit.
Costco had the cool reaper and the headless horseman. I probably would not buy either because I have things that fill those roles already by I did like them. Unfortunately Costco has come up weak on the in store exhibit and even the on line offerings over the last couple of years. It’s like Halloween is an afterthought for them.
Michaels has a lot of good craft offerings, but nothing that really fits my taste. I do appreciate that they offer a decent stock every year in store.
Target was serviceable. I did buy a dragon skeleton and bat skeleton. But overall Target is not a must visit place for me during halloween.
Big lots did have some cool stuff. I bought a few things from there that I remember liking, but strangely enough other than a picture I can‘t think of what it was I bought from there. So I appreciate that they had some cool stuff, but it was not very memorable for me.
Cant really comment on the rest as I did not visit any of them.
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Here in western Washington, none of the retailers were very impressive this year. The quality and selection of anything related to our favorite night of the year was pathetic. The prices are crazy, and the quality is crap compared to just a few years ago. Home Depot was cleaned out completely 2 weeks ago.
At least Party City had the bulk bags of glow sticks that I was looking for, and Walgreens had what I was looking for in terms of this years candy selection.
At least Party City had the bulk bags of glow sticks that I was looking for, and Walgreens had what I was looking for in terms of this years candy selection.
Definitely Home Depot for innovation alone. Lowes stepped it up this year but they are way behind. Target, Walmart, and Michaels took a big step backwards this year. Homegoods, Joann Fabrics, Grandin road, and Michaels for that matter are ridiculously over priced and for the most part just focus on their core demographic which seems to be suburban housewives, and I don’t honestly think anyone thinks “Party City” when they think of animatronics or even Halloween. I always think “Oh yea they sell Halloween stuff” each year. Drop by and leave disgusted at the overpriced dollar store garbage. Spirit Halloween is trapped in this 2005 mode of dribbling props out over 2 months. By the time they release everything people have already spent their money and lost interest in what Spirit is doing. They need to either get with the times and innovate instead of reskinning, focus on creating quality props instead of focusing on elaborate back stories which practically no one cares about, lower the ridiculous prices, give up on the idiotic store theme which usually has no correlation to the actual products, actually have a decent number of the props in store to purchase instead of just having 3-4 of each one if you’re lucky, and release everything at once or just give up and focus on selling costumes to squeakers.
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I think Party City is in a weird spot because their quality depends on the particular store. Some are kind of bad and have subpar Halloween sections. Others are good. And then there is the Halloween City part of their brand, which not everyone has easy access to.
Personally, I feel like they had some unique animatronics this year and impressed me. I hope they keep doing good things and are able to expand their Halloween City stores to more locations.
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I think it depends on region and availability both in-store, and online. Many, many people were able to grab the Wal-Mart lanterns, but no stores around us ever had any in stock, in fact only one store ever showed them even available and my order was cancelled two hours after placing it. Likewise with Big Lots. Our local Sam's Club had displays but jumped right into Christmas stock and I think thre might have been a total of one week worth of actual in-store merch to buy. So my region is just one that is behind the curve that everyone else has been fortunate enough to be a part of.
For my thoughts though, it's more about the quality of what you can get, when you can. Our Lowes was the first to start stocking anything, many things were kind of neat, and I jumped at grabbing their 5' skellies. However, the ones that Home Depot (eventually) put out for sale are just that much higher in quality and appearance especially considering the price is pretty much the same. Even not counting the variations, just the quality and adjustability is miles better than others.
Admittedly I haven't been in the mix prior to this year so I can't compare how the store and stock experiences were compared to previous ones, so that might factor into thoughts too for some people. Our Lowes started strong, and beat Home Depot to stocking shelves by a good week or two. But once HD had theirs out, certain items just did it better. Overall it did feel like many stores had late starts around here, and then only had a very short window to keep items out before moving on. Perhaps it was that short window that has made it seem worse than other years? I started purchasing online over summer though for larger animatronics, from various places just to try to avoid having to rush around as the holiday approached.
For my thoughts though, it's more about the quality of what you can get, when you can. Our Lowes was the first to start stocking anything, many things were kind of neat, and I jumped at grabbing their 5' skellies. However, the ones that Home Depot (eventually) put out for sale are just that much higher in quality and appearance especially considering the price is pretty much the same. Even not counting the variations, just the quality and adjustability is miles better than others.
Admittedly I haven't been in the mix prior to this year so I can't compare how the store and stock experiences were compared to previous ones, so that might factor into thoughts too for some people. Our Lowes started strong, and beat Home Depot to stocking shelves by a good week or two. But once HD had theirs out, certain items just did it better. Overall it did feel like many stores had late starts around here, and then only had a very short window to keep items out before moving on. Perhaps it was that short window that has made it seem worse than other years? I started purchasing online over summer though for larger animatronics, from various places just to try to avoid having to rush around as the holiday approached.
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Availability definitely plays into it.
I was able to grab the Walmart lanterns, but I had to get them from a store on the coast (two hours away from our house in town).
Home Depot had decent selection the first week in store, but I didn't see anything I had to have.
Lowe's had a lot of cheap props and nothing I was interested in. And by the time I got a chance to see the in store, it had already been pushed aside for Christmas.
In the end, all my purchases so far have been online, one 8' skeleton from JoAnn, because I had a coupon, and I just ordered yesterday the giant spider from HD online because I'm tired of all these cheap, crappy small spiders we have, plus I don't have time to build one the same size - and my wife has wanted a giant spider for years. So I could justify that one.
Otherwise, I'm honestly kinda tired of the cheap props from the retailers. The cheap sheet metal bar structure (that rusts after a year or two), the flimsy thin fabrics used now that look like garbage up close, the cracker jack box audio that sounds like a bad Sega game from the 80's. Most of what gets the best results and lasts longer is the stuff I make myself. Then, I don't have to worry about seeing the same thing at someone else's front yard..
I've been buying less each year and building more. Any store bought prop I have now, I consider parts for my own builds once the metal rusts out of the original cheap metal structure.
#endrant
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I was able to grab the Walmart lanterns, but I had to get them from a store on the coast (two hours away from our house in town).
Home Depot had decent selection the first week in store, but I didn't see anything I had to have.
Lowe's had a lot of cheap props and nothing I was interested in. And by the time I got a chance to see the in store, it had already been pushed aside for Christmas.
In the end, all my purchases so far have been online, one 8' skeleton from JoAnn, because I had a coupon, and I just ordered yesterday the giant spider from HD online because I'm tired of all these cheap, crappy small spiders we have, plus I don't have time to build one the same size - and my wife has wanted a giant spider for years. So I could justify that one.
Otherwise, I'm honestly kinda tired of the cheap props from the retailers. The cheap sheet metal bar structure (that rusts after a year or two), the flimsy thin fabrics used now that look like garbage up close, the cracker jack box audio that sounds like a bad Sega game from the 80's. Most of what gets the best results and lasts longer is the stuff I make myself. Then, I don't have to worry about seeing the same thing at someone else's front yard..
I've been buying less each year and building more. Any store bought prop I have now, I consider parts for my own builds once the metal rusts out of the original cheap metal structure.
#endrant
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Gave my vote to Walmart. Some of my favorites came from there this year...tabletop Blow Mold Skeleton is my absolute favorite. Also got a lighted tabletop Craggy Tree with orange lights w/timer function, a nice cardboard Lighted Haunted House with sound & timer/light functions, a "drunken" Blow Mold Pumpkin & my creepy Hand Stake Light which I made a tombstone out of.
Granted I bought the Pumpkin Stack from HD & like it a lot. Mr. Dark from Spirit is also awesome.
As far as amount of items, Target won that category...Lots of mini blow molds & lighted wall hangings.
Granted I bought the Pumpkin Stack from HD & like it a lot. Mr. Dark from Spirit is also awesome.
As far as amount of items, Target won that category...Lots of mini blow molds & lighted wall hangings.
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I have thought a lot about this, and I think the answer is we won Halloween. With HD's foray into the merchandise of the season other retailers have stepped up their game. My additions this year came from a number of retailers including Lowe's and online from others. While I would probably come down on HD side for it supplying about half of this year's purchases, I wish I had a Menards around here as I might have been there a lot.
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I'd have to say the retailer that both impressed AND pissed me off was Home Depot. They had some real quality offerings overall. At the same time I absolutely hate when any store gives Halloween about a week of glory before shoving it off into a small corner in late August in favor of setting up Christmas stuff WAY TOO EARLY. Home Depot excelled at this, and don't get me wrong I love Christmas, but when the time comes for it... AFTER Halloween.
My vote was OTHER and it is Oriental Trade. I got a lot of my items from there this year and the Dollar Tree too. I got a lot of my skeleton heads, tombstones, back drops, the light up bat tree, some fun Halloween pillows, et.. Granted, I am a novice when it comes to this since I have been slowly getting into it over the years. My dad helped me out and built me a life-size coffin. I didpick up a nice tombstone and bag of skeletons from Home Depot. Dollar tree I got some good stuff too.
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I'm surprised no one mentioned TJ Maxx or Marshall's. I just got my shipment in tonight of black Luminara candles from Marshall's and they look very realistic. I went to the Luminara website to compare prices and they were about $10 to $15 dollars more than Marshall's and all sold out of the black Halloween candles. Aside from candles, I've ordered all sorts of nice Halloween items from Marshall's/TJ Maxx like very large Ouija board throw rugs for $16, Ouija pillows and stacked "potion" books. Ross Dress for Less had a few nice thick black glittery spooky leaf garlands that I scooped up for $25.00 each (they look much more expensive than that).
Home Depot in Hawaii was late in getting their store items up; Lowe's beat them so I did a bulk purchase at Lowe's first (managed to snag the last Jack Skellington animated tombstone) then waited for Home Depot to finally come around and purchased their bartender animatronic, the gargoyle statues and the tall blow mold tombstone maiden.
I agree with others that Target did not have anything original or exciting this year; mostly same stuff from last year and previous years. Like the others here, the only exciting thing I saw at Wal-mart this year was the Dragon hand lanterns. I am going to start another thread at the puzzling phenomena of not seeing any orange pumpkin pails - they are all blue and pink...WTH??
I didn't buy anything from Grandin Road this year - too expensive! Spirit Halloween was too late getting their stuff out and I already spent a lot of money at HD and Lowe's. I am still ordering things on Amazon and waiting for them to come in.
I'm sad that Pier One went out of business in Hawaii. I'd usually wait for their 75% to 90% off post-Halloween sale and swoop down like a vulture over a carcass and really make out!
Bath and Body works had some unique Halloween fragrances this year and the coolest thing I found was a raven snowglobe candleholder with flying bats in the water. I went there last week and there were still a ton of eyeball snowglobes with glitter (not very popular it seems).
CVS (Long's Drugs in Hawaii) didn't have much this year; some years they have exciting things but over the years the Halloween stuff has been getting more boring with each passing year - not sure if they buyer or the vendor changed. Walgreens didn't have anything this year that I wanted, as compared to previous years - coolest thing I got from Walgreens was an animated talking 3D wall picture of an old man and the obligatory NBC items.
Home Depot in Hawaii was late in getting their store items up; Lowe's beat them so I did a bulk purchase at Lowe's first (managed to snag the last Jack Skellington animated tombstone) then waited for Home Depot to finally come around and purchased their bartender animatronic, the gargoyle statues and the tall blow mold tombstone maiden.
I agree with others that Target did not have anything original or exciting this year; mostly same stuff from last year and previous years. Like the others here, the only exciting thing I saw at Wal-mart this year was the Dragon hand lanterns. I am going to start another thread at the puzzling phenomena of not seeing any orange pumpkin pails - they are all blue and pink...WTH??
I didn't buy anything from Grandin Road this year - too expensive! Spirit Halloween was too late getting their stuff out and I already spent a lot of money at HD and Lowe's. I am still ordering things on Amazon and waiting for them to come in.
I'm sad that Pier One went out of business in Hawaii. I'd usually wait for their 75% to 90% off post-Halloween sale and swoop down like a vulture over a carcass and really make out!
Bath and Body works had some unique Halloween fragrances this year and the coolest thing I found was a raven snowglobe candleholder with flying bats in the water. I went there last week and there were still a ton of eyeball snowglobes with glitter (not very popular it seems).
CVS (Long's Drugs in Hawaii) didn't have much this year; some years they have exciting things but over the years the Halloween stuff has been getting more boring with each passing year - not sure if they buyer or the vendor changed. Walgreens didn't have anything this year that I wanted, as compared to previous years - coolest thing I got from Walgreens was an animated talking 3D wall picture of an old man and the obligatory NBC items.
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I feel the same way with love/hate for HD. There was enough hate there for me this year that I think PartyHalloween City dethroned them.
1. Party City
2. Home Depot
3. Lowe’s
Honorable mention: Spirit. I liked their theme and love Monty, but they have some issues with roll-out and stock. I still like them, but HD shouldn’t be eating their lunch this bad.
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For me this year was Home goods. I have been searching for halloween dishes for years. I finally have every day and china ones. Mixing bowls serving dishes. Baking and cast iron. Hubby let me go crazy. So our three were.
1 Home goods
2 Home depo
3 Lemax
1 Home goods
2 Home depo
3 Lemax
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I didn’t really have a preference last year but I would say Spirit Halloween. Regan, Monty, Shorty, and the many horror movie collectibles were enough to make me happy.
I personally find Home Depot overrated, not very many of their animatronics appeal to me, and the Home Depot stores around me don’t even get anything in. They hardly had any stock online too.
I personally find Home Depot overrated, not very many of their animatronics appeal to me, and the Home Depot stores around me don’t even get anything in. They hardly had any stock online too.
Not sure why everyone is so hyped for Spirit, spent less there this year than ever. Home Depot took most of my $$ this year, especially with the half price discounts near the end of the season. Also, they actually had animatronics in their stores in October, even if they did a **** job before then. Hopefully Spirit comes back strong this year, with the old coupons and in-store availability
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